1. ¹School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
2. ²Yunnan Province Anti-epidemic Station, Kunming 650003, Yunnan Province, China
3. ³Xuan Wei Anti-epidemic Station and Tumor Prevention and treatment Office, Xuanwei 655400, Yunnan Province, China
4. ⁴Institute of Environmental Health and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Beijing 100050, China

Correspondence: Dr YT Jin, E-mail: jinedu@163.com

Received 4 August 2004; Revised 6 December 2004; Accepted 19 January 2005; Published online 8 March 2005.

Abstract

To investigate whether lung cancer clusters in families in a high incidence county of China, an analysis was conducted using data on domestic fuel history and tobacco use for family members of 740 deceased lung cancer probands and 740 controls (probands' spouses). Lung cancer prevalence was compared among first-degree relatives of probands and of controls, taking into account various factors using logistic regression and generalised estimating equations. First-degree relatives of probands, compared with those of controls, showed an excess risk of lung cancer (odds ratio (OR)=2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68–2.53). Overall, female relatives of probands had a greater risk than did their male counterparts, and the risk was 2.90-fold for parents of probands as compared with parents of spouses. Female relatives of probands had 2.67-fold greater risk than female controls. Lung cancer risk was particularly marked among mothers (OR=3.78, 95% CI: 2.03–7.12). Having two or more affected relatives was associated with a 2.69–5.40-fold risk increase. The risk elevation was also found for other cancers overall. Results confirm previous findings of a genetic predisposition to lung cancer, and also imply that lung cancer may share a genetic background with other cancers.